Free to attend
The EU has introduced important new rules and processes for cross-border trade in recent years, including the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and Digital Product Passports (DPP). More recently, it has announced that it will remove the ‘de minimis’ provision for low value consignments, with a temporary fixed €3 customs duty being introduced until June 2026, potentially impacting several SME and e-commerce exporters sending goods to the bloc.
The EU is also considering a complete overhaul of its customs regime. In the light of an increasingly volatile global trading environment, Brussels has already taken various steps to simplify some of the new requirements that it has sought to introduce in recent years. The European Commission also updated its strategy for economic security at the end of 2025 in a bid to bolster supply chain resilience and to counter the threat of geopolitical rivals such as China and the US.
This ‘Global Trade Live’ free webinar from the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade will give an overview of key changes and deadlines businesses need to be aware of for trading with the EU in 2026 and beyond. It will also feature a panel of policy experts discussing what the EU’s recent changes show about its broader long-term strategy on trade and customs.
Agenda
Jargon Buster: Explaining CBAM, EUDR, DPP, de minimis and more
Panel Discussion: What is the EU’s long-term strategy on customs and trade?
Questions from the Helpline: Answering our members’ FAQs on EU trade
A Look to the Future: How to prepare your team for EU changes
Need more help?
- Get hands-on advice with new EU customs and trade rules through our Advisory Services
- Upskill your team with our ‘Trading with the EU’ training course
Guest speaker
Leading engagement and liaising with international stakeholders, including the European institutions on a wide range of European, Trade and International policies, Fergus promotes the benefits of open and fair trade.
Fergus has worked in Brussels for over a decade and has extensive knowledge of the industrial sector and the importance of international trade.
Fergus has a master’s in chemistry from the University of Warwick and previously represented Make UK championing manufacturers for over 10 years in Europe and Internationally. Before this Fergus worked in the food industry providing guidance and analysis for dairy companies on environment, sustainability and climate change. Fergus has sat on various government and industry advisory panels in the UK and abroad and spent time on secondment in the UK Government.
Ilona is an expert in international trade compliance with over eight years of experience, specialising in import operations. As the lead for the Imports Advisory Practice, she excels in managing complex import processes, conducting customs and broker invoice audits, and developing policies that streamline cross-border trade while ensuring strict adherence to global regulations. Her expertise spans customs requirements in the MENAT and EMEA regions, where she has successfully mitigated risks and optimised compliance strategies for various organisations.
Ilona has an in-depth understanding of international customs regulations, staying ahead of legislative changes to proactively address challenges and assess their impact on business operations. Her strong focus on import compliance and her analytical approach to auditing have been pivotal in achieving seamless and compliant import operations across multiple markets.
Currently, as a digital trade and customs specialist within Academy Strategic Projects, Ilona leads key initiatives around cross-border movements and the UK 2025 Border Strategy. She spearheads projects that leverage disruptive technologies to optimise import processes and enhance global trade facilitation. Her expertise aims to ensure that businesses remain competitive and compliant in the rapidly evolving landscape of international trade and drive innovation and efficiency in cross-border operations.
Will Barns-Graham is the executive editor at the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade and the organisation’s lead for editorial content.
Since joining CIOE&IT in 2017, he has created the industry’s leading webinar programme, hosting several hundred sessions on all aspects of international trade. He has also been the lead writer and editor on the IOE&IT Daily Update news bulletin, lead editor on the CIOE&IT’s World Trade Matters journal and produced multiple CIOE&IT events.
Will has also been the lead content contributor on several collaborative projects with governments and business organisations in the UK and overseas. This includes the Open to Export International Business Awards which he managed in 2018, which resulted in CIOE&IT being named a Small Business Champion by the World Trade Organization and the International Chamber of Commerce.
He is a NCTJ-qualified journalist, having gained a distinction on the Press Association’s Level 3 Diploma. He has also gained an MA in Social Anthropology from SOAS and a BA in Philosophy and Theology from the University of Oxford.